The 51st Dun Laoghaire bridge congress will take place in the Rochestown Lodge Hotel, Rochestown Avenue, from October 10th to 17th.
The programme is: first Friday: wine, and cheese reception (7.15 p.m.), mixed pairs (7.45 p.m.); Saturday (1.30 p.m.): three two-session pairs championships - major, intermediate A, and B; likewise with the teams on Sunday; Monday (7.30 p.m.): no systems pairs, and novice competition; Tuesday (7.30 p.m.): husband/wife; Wednesday (7.30 p.m.): master/novice; Thursday (7.30 p.m.): women's and men's pairs; final Friday: Gala pairs (7.30 p.m.), presentation of prizes, and social (10.30 p.m.).
Open pairs will be run twice daily throughout. There will also be 10 a.m. sessions, confined to intermediate and novice players, from Monday through to the final Friday. Entries: Patricia McGovern (01-2857853).
The Drogheda congress will be held in the Westcourt Hotel and the Arts Centre from October 3rd to 5th. Entries: Roger O'Shea (041-28608).
The Limerick congress will be played in the Greenhills Hotel on the Ennis Road from October 17th to 19th. Brochures: Gordon S. Lessells (061-340489).
The Contract Bridge Association of Ireland's national mixed pairs championships for the president's, Mrs Marie Cummins's, prizes, held in the Regency Hotel, Dublin, attracted 232 players.
The main event (Spiro Cup) was won by C. Dowling-Long, and E. Martin. Runners-up were H. Carroll and T. Walsh; third T. Rigney and N. Toibin; fourth K. and N.K. FitzGibbon, and fifth P. Meehan and K. McGarry. Best Masters: M. Lindopp, J. Kelly. Sessional winners: E. and B. Healy; K. Downes, J.J. Kiely; H. Dowling-Long and J. Carroll.
Intermediate championship (Jim Fitzgerald Trophy): 1, M. and D. O'Sullivan; 2, S. Newell, C. O'Driscoll; 3, B. Kemple, N. Minogue. Sessional winners: Philand Paddy Morrissey; N. and J. Dolan; A. and P. Seery.